Programme:

Albanian Studies (2012/2013)

Study Cycle:	Second Cycle (Postgraduate)
Faculty:	Languages, Cultures and Communications

Academic year:	2024 / 2025
Title:	Master of Albanian Studies / Field: Language or Literature
ECTS:	120 (2 years) Accrediation
Decision:

The post-graduate program in Albanian Language and Literature has been designed to help students acquire knowledge that will orient them to the professions that are closely related to the field of language, culture, literature and education, as well as skills and competencies for employment in higher levels of the public and private sector.

The graduated students will be able to find jobs in different fields of social and professional life, such as:

Teaching: in language schools, in gymnasiums, in primary and secondary schools, in universities, etc.
Employment: linguists, journalists, lectors in different institutions, translators, interpreters in various different ministries and other governmental bodies, translators/interpreters in various different professional and vocational organizations and institutions, translators/interpreters in the public and private sector, in international organizations, etc.

Knowledge and understanding

With this program, the candidate acquires general knowledge in many linguistic and literary fields, including both the disciplinary and interdisciplinary ones. This will help them become more creative and professional in resolving the linguistic and literary problems and issues.

Applying knowledge and understanding

The corpus of knowledge enables them different job opportunities that encompass a large number of different sectors of the social and professional life. The knowledge can be implemented in the educational sector, working as a teacher in secondary schools as well as an assistant in respective faculties and institutes. They can also work as researchers in the field of linguistics and folklore in different Albanological institutes. They can work as journalists, editors and lectors, as well as linguistic critics for different electronic or printed media, whereupon they can contribute to the application of literary norms. They can work as translators and interpreters in bilingual municipalities, ministries and other governmental institutions, in courts, professional organizations, in the private and public sector, in international organizations, etc.

Making judgement

The students will be able to compose and assess curricula and syllabi in the field of languages and literature for primary and secondary schools. They will also be able to evaluate and compare different translations in various languages, assess the proofreading of different literary, linguistic and journalistic texts, etc. They will also be able to assess creations in terms of composition and content, by identifying the cultural and artistic features of those creations. They can be appointed in some professional juries connected to literature, folklore, and literature; assess linguistic researches, or decide on the best item in a competition. They can also get involved in research teams, create lists of graded readers based on level of difficulty and age, etc.

Communication skills

The students will be able to hold grammar or literature classes within the framework of the curricula in primary and secondary schools. They will also be able to translate scientific texts and literary works from their mother tongue to another language and vice versa. They will be able to participate in scientific discussions, seminars, and conferences in order to further develop and strengthen their knowledge and skills in different sub-fields. They will also be able to write reviews for study programs, textbooks, and works of art, poetry and novels. They can also get involved in research teams; create lists of graded readers based on level of difficulty and age, as well as become spokespeople of political parties or any other public or private institution and/or organization.

Learning skills

The acquired skills will help students represent themselves as future leaders and initiate changes in schools and/or other institutions. In order to achieve the best results, they can introduce themselves with new skills and knowledge; train the others by offering them different professional development courses including spelling, proofreading, essay writing, translation, usage of new technologies and methods in teaching, project preparation, thesis writing, etc. They can also suggest innovations in the schools they are going to work for, such as establishing different sections in terms of Albanian Language and Literature, library, book promotions, etc.

Semester 1

[6 ECTS] Research Methodology
The material of this course deals with the newest forms and methods of modern methodology in learning the Albanian language and literature. In essence, this includes the methods, forms, techniques, organization of the individual research scientific work with its specific characteristics, etc.
[6 ECTS] Balkan dimension of Albanian folklore
This material contains quite a rich and concentrated content of the Albanian and Balkan folklore, through which the high values of the spiritual culture, inherited from our national and regional geniuses, are emphasized. These values prove the beauty and geniality of our anonymous creators who were able to present in a very clear and fluent way the rich history of our nation, as well as of the Balkan region.
[6 ECTS] Albanian civilization
The most relevant aspects of the culture of national civilization of the modern Albanian society are presented here. The course offers basic knowledge though some crucial spheres, by analyzing overwhelmingly the literature and culture from a European perspective.
[6 ECTS] Dialectology – Microsystems in contact
The main topics include the historical development of dialects, classification of dialects and sub-dialects in all Albanian regions. The dialectological changes from the phonetic, morphologic, syntactic, lexical and phraseological aspect and also dialectological transcription.
[6 ECTS] Free elective course 1
- Rhetoric
  During its long history of 2,500 years, rhetoric was used to indicate many different things; but rhetoric nowadays is considered as the art of persuasion through language. Rhetoric marks the way that an individual is linked to a particular theme or idea in order to convince the others. Rhetoric is characterized by several distinguishing features.
- Multilingualism and multiculturalism
  The purpose of this subject will be multilingualism in multicultural societies as a social phenomenon. This phenomenon is massive in the world. During the lectures, more precise terms such as monoculturalism and multiculturalism will be considered. The term ‘linguistic nationalism’ has at least two forms of this nationalism, which collide with each other: for the leaders of the most powerful countries nationalism means expansion, and for minorities it takes the form of defiance and struggle for the affirmation of identity, despite such pressure. The emphasis during the program will be multiculturalism in education. In the schools curricula consists of contents from different cultures.
- Selected Chapters of Advanced Topics in IT Applications for Preparing a Scientific Paper
  The aim of this subject is: * To display the technical elements, the structure of the text and deign of a scientific research. * To enable students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills from selected advanced chapters of IT applications that will be needed in preparation of the scientific and research paper. * Practical application of these objectives in preparing student’s individual research paper.
- Selected Chapters of Advanced Applications for Statistical Data Processing
  The aim of this subject is: * To display the technical elements in the field of statistics: organizing, processing, comparing through analysis and publication of data. * To enable students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills from selected advanced chapters of the applications for statistical data processing. * Practical application of these objectives in statistical processing of data obtained from questionnaires, reports, scientific studies and other documents.
- Professional Communication
  The course is focused on the development of those communication skills that are essential for effective functioning in the professional world. Students will study the process for analysis of different communication situations, and will accordingly comprehend them. Among the themes that will be covered are communication in organization, interpersonal and group communication, oral presentations, interviews for employment, professional business letters and interpersonal skills including group dynamics and teamwork.
- Methodology of Teaching
  The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the basic teaching approaches and methods. They are expected to gain knowledge and skills in order to be able to apply the active educational tools. The course also offers development, learning and teaching as concepts and basic practices that allow teachers to teach about the development of thinking. Throughout this course, students will gain both theoretical background and entirety of strategies that will enable them to reflect and develop both their own and their students` critical thinking.

Semester 2

[6 ECTS] Modern Albanian Literature
The main characteristics of the Albanian modernism are the positive tendencies of modernists, their requirements in literature, the social-political situation and literature, prevailing motifs and subjects in their works and creations, the universal idea, the philosophy of life, the prediction of difficulties, the great optimism for life and work, historical events, etc.
[6 ECTS] Analyses of literary text
The literary texts and their representatives are presented in an overwhelming manner, beginning with the analysis of topics and different other motifs, stylistic peculiarities and the manner of interpretation of literary texts.
[6 ECTS] Ethno-linguistics
This course deals with the relationship between languages and nations as well as the mutual influence of linguistic and ethnic factors in the development of languages as well as different types of stereotypes. Ethno-linguistics has considerable impact on the language, culture, onomastics, literature, etc.
[6 ECTS] Experimental Phonetics
The course includes the history of phonetics, experimental phonetics, phonological components, phonemes, their formation and manner of division in groups and sub-groups, the role of phonological elements, the difference between the old Albanian language and the standard Albanian language.
[6 ECTS] Free elective course 2
- Rhetoric
  During its long history of 2,500 years, rhetoric was used to indicate many different things; but rhetoric nowadays is considered as the art of persuasion through language. Rhetoric marks the way that an individual is linked to a particular theme or idea in order to convince the others. Rhetoric is characterized by several distinguishing features.
- Multilingualism and multiculturalism
  The purpose of this subject will be multilingualism in multicultural societies as a social phenomenon. This phenomenon is massive in the world. During the lectures, more precise terms such as monoculturalism and multiculturalism will be considered. The term ‘linguistic nationalism’ has at least two forms of this nationalism, which collide with each other: for the leaders of the most powerful countries nationalism means expansion, and for minorities it takes the form of defiance and struggle for the affirmation of identity, despite such pressure. The emphasis during the program will be multiculturalism in education. In the schools curricula consists of contents from different cultures.
- Selected Chapters of Advanced Applications for Statistical Data Processing
  The aim of this subject is: * To display the technical elements in the field of statistics: organizing, processing, comparing through analysis and publication of data. * To enable students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills from selected advanced chapters of the applications for statistical data processing. * Practical application of these objectives in statistical processing of data obtained from questionnaires, reports, scientific studies and other documents.
- Professional Communication
  The course is focused on the development of those communication skills that are essential for effective functioning in the professional world. Students will study the process for analysis of different communication situations, and will accordingly comprehend them. Among the themes that will be covered are communication in organization, interpersonal and group communication, oral presentations, interviews for employment, professional business letters and interpersonal skills including group dynamics and teamwork.
- Methodology of Teaching
  The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the basic teaching approaches and methods. They are expected to gain knowledge and skills in order to be able to apply the active educational tools. The course also offers development, learning and teaching as concepts and basic practices that allow teachers to teach about the development of thinking. Throughout this course, students will gain both theoretical background and entirety of strategies that will enable them to reflect and develop both their own and their students` critical thinking.

Semester 3

[6 ECTS] Albanian Sociolinguistics
The course consists of the theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part includes the basic concepts which deal with: the relationship of the language and the society, the way we use language in different social contexts, the basic reasons for linguistic variations, etc; the function of the language in the society; the relationship between language and culture; horizontal and vertical stratification of the language; the sociolectal variation and differentiation; language policies; standardization, etc.
[6 ECTS] Modern Albanian prose studies
The characterization of the contemporary Albanian literature with a qualitative overturn and literary production at current times. The cult of the beauty in arts and the beginning of a new era as well as the culmination of artistic literary values. The determination and nomination of stylistic concepts is also examined.
[6 ECTS] Modern Albanian poetry studies
The determination and nomination of stylistic concepts; analysis and interpretation of poetry works of the most renowned authors have been included here, with the possibility of a critical overview of those authors and their deeds; the emergence of the phenomenon of intimate lyrics in poetry; the meaning of the new poetical voice in poetry, etc.
[6 ECTS] Stylistics and Pragmatics
Content: pragmatic knowledge, understanding of hidden (encrypted) messages, ways of reaching certain aims in the process of communication, usage of elements such as content messages, implicit messages and prejudices.
[6 ECTS] Elective course 1
- Modern Albanian criticism
  Introduction to the basics of studies in literature. How to read, love and learn the modern Albanian literary criticism. The relationship between literature, history and politics as well as critical thinking as an important “Critical theory” is introduced through this course.
- Literary theories and methods
  The special notions in literary methods and theories as well as the basic problems in the scientific studies of this field are examined. The origins, function and objective of the special notions that quite often appear in the theory of literature are explained; they also help us in creating a good orientation towards modern developments in the science of literature.
- Languages in contact
  History of contact linguistics; notions; fusion of languages; creators of modern theories of languages in contact; direct and indirect contacts; function of contact languages in settlements where they are used.

Semester 4

[30 ECTS] Master Thesis
The students get into a study program and are focused on the selection of study problems related to their thesis. They collect materials for the thesis; interpret the theoretical and empirical materials and findings by using the adequate qualitative and quantitative methods.